It’s a big season for area bowling, with professionals having competed in the U.S. Open last month at Liverpool’s Flamingo Lanes and the United States Bowling Congress championships taking place next year.
Amid all that, the state high school bowling tournament is coming to town in March, and East Syracuse Minoa, which has won boys and girls state titles in years past, hopes to have a presence at that event.
First, though, the Spartans had to get used to facing large-school competition in the Salt City Athletic Conference, and the baptism involved facing Liverpool last Tuesday at Bowl Mor Lanes.
ESM lost, 2-1, to the Warriors on both sides, defeated in the boys match despite Ryan MacCombie shooting a three-game total of 727 that included a 258 game. Hunter Borkowski added a 618 series as Liverpool had Zak Ormsby shoot a 701 series.
In the girls match, Haley Youker shot a 549 series, with Stephanie Malson getting a 526 series and high game of 202. Liverpool’s Dominique Cimini (538 series) and Dailyn McCarthy (534 series) led that side.
Two days later, ESM would take on Fayetteville-Manlius at Green Lakes, and the boys Spartans pulled out a 2-1 decision over the Hornets.
MacCombie again led ESM, posting a 639 series. Chris Bayly got a 220 game during his 557 set as John Russo earned a 514 series. Borkowski, with a 497 series, was two pins better than John Messina.
On F-M’s side, Kevin Winschel led the way with a 593 series. John-Luc Buonfiglio got a 561 series as Isaac Blanford had a three-game total of 519, ahead of Adam Koss (482 series) and Jackson Arment (474 series).
